Phlox plant named ‘Balsukaco’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Balsukaco’, characterized by its light purplish-pink colored flowers, medium green colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Phlox paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsukaco’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Balsukaco’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during July 2014. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Phlox cultivars with large sized flowers,increased powdery mildew resistance and a vigorous, upright growthhabit.

The new Phlox cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is Coral Créme Drop ‘Ditomdre’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 20,907, characterized by its light red colored flowers,dark green colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Jade’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 21,878, characterized by its white colored flowers withgreen colored tips, medium green colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, upright-compact growth habit. The new cultivar was selected asa single flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination during August 2015 in a controlled environment inGuadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2015 in Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsukaco’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Light purplish-pink colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a slight lighter shade of flower color and highergrowth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the maleparent primarily in having light purplish-pink colored flowers, largerdiameter corollas, and higher growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Phlox cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is Super Ka-Pow Pink ‘Balsukapin’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 33,188. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balsukapin’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a lighter flower color than        plants of ‘Balsukapin’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter corollas        than plants of ‘Balsukapin’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller diameter primary        inflorescences than plants of ‘Balsukapin’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsukaco’. Theplants were approximately five months old. The plants were grown threeplants per pot in three-quart containers for approximately 9 weeks in anoutdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinchesprior to transplant and one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balsukaco’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balsukaco’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheRHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2021 under naturallight conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximatelyfive-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grownunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown three plants per pot in three-quart containers forapproximately 9 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plantswere given two pinches prior to transplant and one pinch one week aftertransplant. Prior to transplant plants were grown in liners in apoly-covered greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperaturesranged from an average high of an average high of 79.5° F. (26.4° C.) toan average low of 68.5° F. (20.3° C.), and supplemental lighting wasprovided daily for five hours during short days. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Balsukaco’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Coral Créme Drop ‘Ditomdre’, U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 20,907.        -   Male parent.—‘Jade’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,878.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 42 to 49            days.        -   Root description.—Fine to medium thickness.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            vigorous, upright growth habit.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4b (−25° F. to −20° F./−31.7° C. to            −28.9° C.).        -   Size.—Height: Approximately 25.0 cm. Width: Approximately            27.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching will improve            branching.        -   Branch.—Quantity: Approximately 4 main branches. Shape:            Round. Strength: Moderately strong. Length to base of            inflorescence: Approximately 8.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately            2.2 cm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color of young stems:            146B. Color of mature stems: 146A to 146B, becoming woody            199B with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 12. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite, decussate.        -   Leaves.—Shape: Elliptic, slightly carinate. Margin: Entire,            minutely ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width:            Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Color of            upper surface of young foliage: 137B with venation of 146D.            Color of lower surface of young foliage: Closest to 147B            with venation of 146D. Color of upper surface of mature            foliage: 137A with venation of 146D. Color of lower surface            of mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146D.        -   Petioles.—Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width: Approximately            3.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsukaco’ is a long day obligate and is            freely flowering under outdoor growing conditions with            substantially continuous blooming from late spring            throughout summer.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            10 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Compound terminal panicle,            flowers face upright and outwardly, self-cleaning. Quantity            per plant: Approximately 7. Fragrance: Moderately sweet and            pleasant. Height of primary: Approximately 7.0 cm. Width of            primary: Approximately 10.0 cm. Quantity of fully open            flowers per primary inflorescence: Approximately 15. Height            of secondary: Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of secondary:            7.5 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per secondary            inflorescence: Approximately 7.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary            acute angle to stem. Length of primary: Approximately            2.0 cm. Diameter of primary: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm.            Length of axillary: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter of            axillary: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.            Color: 146B mottled with N187A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Length:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color:            Calyx of 146B with an overlay of N186A at tips and petal            portion of 70A to 70B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Salverform. Diameter: Approximately 2.8 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.9 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 in a single whorl, base fused into a            narrow tube. Lobe shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Obtuse. Lobe length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Lobe width:            Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open:            55B to 55A faintly tinted with 70B and with darkest color at            petal edges, 70B at orifice. Color of lower surface when            first open: 55B to 55C with a swirl of 70B on uppermost of            overlapping edges. Color of upper surface when fully open:            55C to 55A with darkest color at petal edges, 70B at            orifice. Color of lower surface when fully open: 55B to 55D            with a swirl of 70B on uppermost of overlapping edges.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Sparsely            pubescent. Texture of inner surface: Smooth, glabrous with            lower 6.0 mm densely pubescent. Color of inner surface:            Closest to 70A with 145D at base. Color of outer surface:            71A with 145D at base.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, lower half fused. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly apiculate. Length: Approximately            1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer            surface: Sparsely pubescent. Texture of inner surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Color of inner surface: 146C with tip of            N186A. Color of outer surface: 146C mottled with N186A.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Primary erect,            axillary acute angle to peduncle. Length: Approximately            3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely            pubescent. Color: 146B mottled with N186A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per            flower, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately            2.1 cm. Filament length of free portion: Approximately            1.0 mm. Anther shape: Sagittate. Anther length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 158B. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Stigma            shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma length: Approximately            1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145D. Style length: Approximately            1.6 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Increased resistance to powdery mildew    has been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named‘Balsukaco’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.